By Arlene Magid
** Originally published in the January/February/March 1995 Stallion Issue of the Crabbet Influence magazine.
Anyone who was fortunate enough to see Fadjur (pictured above at the top of page as the header/article photo) in person never forgot him. He epitomized the Arabian breed both in appearance and temperament. His huge dark eyes, tiny muzzle, wedge-shaped head with large nostrils, extremely arched neck, and high-flung tail (no ginger needed!) drew admirers to him. More importantly, Fadjur was a good horse as well as a fine example of the breed, with great strength of loin and correct legs (two traits that can be lacking in today’s halter horses). Fadjur’s motion was extravagant, and he was successfully shown in harness. His temperament exemplified the Bedouin horse who would carry his master on a raid and yet gentle enough to spend time in the family tent. When shown he was all fire and brilliance, dancing in the ring and making sure all eyes were on him. Yet he was supremely kind and sweet when not asked to display himself, totally safe with children and very mannerly at breeding time. It would be impossible to estimate the number of new friends Fadjur won for the breed as a whole, both on good looks and disposition. Of how many Arabians currently showing could this be said?
Although many people believe Fadjur was bred by the master breeder Frank Mc Coy (since his longtime owners the Tone family bought him from McCoy), he was actually bred by Harry Linden of Spokane, Washington. Fadjur’s dam Bint Sahara (for many years the breed’s leading broodmare) had been sold to Linden by McCoy after producing her phenomenal daughter Fersara (who became such a phenomenal show mare that McCoy bought her dam back!). Linden also bred Fadjur’s full sister, Bint Fadara, herself dam of five champions including Canadian National Champion Mare Joana (granddam of U.S. National Champion Mare Jon San Judizon) and Canadian Top Ten Western Pleasure Ferdara++. Bint Fadara was bred to her full brother to produce halter champion Fadaro, himself sire of Canadian Top Ten Show Hack Deodars Iza.
Fadjur’s pedigree represents an intriguing outcross that perhaps gave him the genetic strength to pass on the best traits of his hybrid heritage. (This tendency was also seen in his grandson Khemosabi+++, who in many ways greatly resembles him). Fadjur’s sire Fadheilan, himself a halter champion at age 22, was a son of the Egyptian import *Fadl and the Polish import *Kasztelanka, both imported by Henry Babson of Illinois. *Fadl was used as a polo pony and his get and grandget were noted for their athletic ability. *Kasztelanka raced successfully in Poland, finished in the money in all but one of her races. She left just four foals in America, but her son Halef stood at stud in Germany and became the maternal grandsire of *Sanacht, the breed’s all-time leading broodmare with 12 champions. Fadjur’s dam Bint Sahara produced 11 champions including Pacific Coast Champion Mare Fersara (dam of the noted sires Ferzon and The Real McCoy), U.S. Top Ten Mare Sahara Queen, and U.S. Top Ten Stallion McCoys Count. Ten of her offspring produced National winners. Bint Sahara was a daughter of the Farana son Farawi (who was predominately Crabbet) and the half-Crabbet, half-Davenport Bint Sedjur. Bint Sahara’s full sister Sedi Sedjur produced Canadian Top Ten Mare Virginia Dare and multi U.S. Top Ten Mare Virginia Belle, both National winner producers. There is great athletic ability behind Bint Sahara, as her grandsire Farana was a noted stock horse and her mother is a granddaughter of the high-trotting Crabbet sire*Berk. Thus, Fadjur’s own athleticism and ability to pass it on is no fluke.
Fadjur met Marge Tone, who would own him for the rest of his life, when he was just six months old in later 1952. It took her four months to persuade her husband to buy him (for the princely sum of $600!). Fadjur’s first purpose was to serve as “husband” to Marge’s two purebred mares, the Fertif daughters Fer Natta and Hi Natta (he sired National winners from both of them) and later to Saki, a daughter of Ferseyn and granddaughter of Farana who produced 11 champions by him. Fadjur also became a show ring sensation, shown by V.F. Stull before he was four, and by Marge’s son-in-law Paul Polk for the remainder of his career. His presentation by Paul set a new standard for Arabian showing – Paul allowed him to show off his exuberance and presence in a totally natural way, and the show crowds loved it. So did the judges. Fadjur had what was probably the longest halter career of any stallion shown in All-Arabian competition. He was unplaced only once, as a yearling. Thereafter, he was named Region I Champion Stallion, Pacific Coast Champion Stallion (four times), U.S. or Canadian Top Ten Stallion (five times), and twice U.S. Reserve National Champion Stallion (in 1960 and 1968). He won a total of 22 class A halter championships, the last at age 23 in 1975!
Fadjur’s record as a sire equaled his show career in success level. He was one of the first Arabian stallions in America to have get internationally exported. Fadjur sons and daughters were sold to buyers in England, South Africa, Costa Rica, Australia, Guatemala, Argentina, Spain, Morocco, Mexico, and Brazil. Fadjur bred all of his mares by natural cover (a requirement for exporting to many of the countries where his foals were sold) even when artificial insemination was permitted by the Registry. Fadjur’s vitality was remarkable – he settled mares past his 30th birthday (his last registered foal was conceived in November, 1982!). Besides his tremendous fertility (he sired 820 lifetime registered purebreds), he was also quite prepotent in stamping his get, many of whom looked like carbon copies of their sire. Fadjur sired pretty faces, arched necks, high tail carriages, correct legs, and kind but fiery temperaments. 117 of his get won class A show championships in halter and/or performance, and 19 became National winners (see accompanying chart).
Fadjur get and descendants also excelled outside of the show ring. Nine Fadjur sons sired race winners, making Fadjur the leading branch of his sire line (Ibn Rabdan) in the production of race winners. One Fadjur son, Fadbai, sired six different race winners, several of them stakes winners. The double Fadjur grandson Seventeens Binye set an Arabian world record for 4 ½ furlongs. Fadjur’s son Sierra Fadwah was named the Endurance Horse Registry’s National Champion Stallion in 1983 and 1987 and the 1988 Overall Reserve National Champion Middleweight.
Not surprisingly, Fadjur get have bred on successfully in producing show ring victors in nearly every discipline. 86 of his daughters have produced champions. Of his 27 daughters who have produced National winners, 12 have produced multiple winners and/or National Champions (see accompanying chart). Of the 12 Fadjur sons who have sired National winners, eight have sired multiple winners and/or National Champions. The Fadjur influence is strongly felt at the top levels of competition each year. In 1992, the Canadian National Champion Stallion, Mare, and Gelding all had lines to Fadjur. Horses with at least one cross to Fadjur include U.S. National Champion Stallions Exceladdinn, Ali Jamaal, Echo Magnifficoo, Amurath Bandolero+, and Kharben+, as well as U.S. National Champion Mares Shahteyna and Bey Teyna, Canadian National Champion Mare Keepsake V, Canadian Reserve National Champion Stallion Moonstone Bey V, and Canadian National Champion Stallion Top Contender. The breed’s two top living producers are out of Fadjur daughters. The leading living sire of champions, U.S. and Canadian National Champion Stallion and Western Pleasure Champion Khemosabi+++, is out of the Fadjur daughter Jurneeka++. Interestingly, he is the produce of a hybrid outcross (i.e. his parents have no common pedigree elements), as was Fadjur himself. Many feel Khemosabi+++ closely resembles his maternal grandsire, both in type and temperament. The leading living dam of National winners is the *Bask++ daughter Autumn Fire, whose eight champions and six National winners include Canadian National Champion English Pleasure Junior Horse Alyaska Bey V, U.S. Top Ten Park Afire Bey V, and U.S. and Canadian Top Ten English Pleasure August Bey V. She is out of the Fadjur daughter Sparkling Burgundy.
Fadjur died in February 1983 just a few months short of his 31st birthday. His impact on the breed continues to be measured in the show ring and on the race track and endurance trail each year.
CHART 1: PUREBRED NATIONAL WINNERS BY FADJUR
ANTONETTE++ (x Farzanah) 1967 U.S. Top Ten Mare; 1964 Canadian Reserve National Champion Mare; 1965 Canadian Top Ten Mare
BINT FER NATTA (x Fer Natta) 1962 U.S. Top Ten Mare; 1962 Canadian top Ten Mare
BINT SAKI (x Saki) 1966 U.S. Top Ten Mare; 1968 U.S. Top Ten Mare
BONITA FADSEYN (x Franseyn) 1982 Canadian Top Ten Western Pleasure AOTR
DRUM MAJUR (x Jatta) 1977 U.S. Top Ten Futurity Cutting
FAD-A-GLO (x La Fana) 1972 U.S. Top Ten English Pleasure AOTR
FADALAN++ (x Fellany) 1967 U.S. National Champion Gelding
FAD-AMIR++ (x Bint Jeseyna) 1980 U.S. Top Ten Western Pleasure; 1982 U.S. Top Ten Western Pleasure JOTR; 1982 & 1984 Canadian Top Ten Western Pleasure JOTR; 1983 Canadian Reserve National Champion Western Pleasure JOTR; 1986 Canadian Top Ten Western Pleasure JOTR 17/Under
FADJAWI (x Nabiya) 1969 Canadian top Ten Stallion
FADLOREN+ (x Maaroudana) 1980 U.S. National Champion Stock; 1980 Canadian Top Ten Stock
HI FAD++ (x Hi Natta) 1964 Canadian Top Ten Stallion
IBN FADJUR (x Saki) 1963 U.S. Reserve National Champion Stallion; 1964 & 1965 U.S. Top Ten Stallion; 1962 Canadian Reserve National Champion Stallion; 1964 Canadian National Champion Stallion
JURNEEKA++ (x Fadneeka) 1963 U.S. Top Ten Mare; 1964 U.S. Reserve National Champion English Pleasure & Western Pleasure; 1964 Canadian Top Ten Mare; 1965 Canadian Top Ten Mare
MARJANAZEM++ (x Suranazem) 1970 U.S. National Champion Pleasure Driving; 1969 Canadian Top Ten Mare
MY FADJURL+/ (x Mis Saudi Arabia) 1981 U.S. Top Ten Sidesaddle; 1981 U.S. Top Ten Trail; 1987 U.S. Top Ten Western Pleasure JOTR; 1987 U.S. National Champion Western Sidesaddle; 1987 U.S. Top Ten Western Pleasure JOTR 17/Under
SA-FAD++ (x Saki) 1962 Canadian Top Ten Stallion
SAKIFA (x Saki) 1964 Canadian National Champion Mare
SURAFAD (x Suralee) 1966 U.S. National Champion Futurity Cutting
ZANNTARA (x Jureem) 1984 U.S. Top Ten Trail; 1980 Canadian National Champion Trail
CHART 2: TOP PRODUCING FADJUR DAUGHTERS (THOSE WHO HAVE PRODUCED MULTIPLE NATIONAL WINNERS AND/OR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS)
BAY LADY (x Sarma) dam of Canadian Reserve National Champion Stallion Litigator+++ (by *Exelsjor) and Canadian Top Ten Futurity Stallion Accomplice (by El Hilal)
DEBELLA (x Arabi Angel) dam of Canadian Reserve National Champion Formal Driving Fad-Jordgee (by K.J. Jordgee Boy++)
FADAUN (x Mountain Dawn) dam of U.S. National Champion Trail Ibn Fad Bolsoya (by Bolsoya Bachelor)
FADJURS GRACE (x Fadjeyba) dam of U.S. Reserve National Champion Trail Cass Ole’s Crystal (by Cass Ole+)
FADJURS LASS (x Fadorable) dam of 1994 U.S. Top Ten Western Pleasure JOTR 14-17 and Western Pleasure JTR Antique Fire (by Firestreak)
FADLANA (x Ralana) dam of Canadian National Champion Basic Dressage Kasztan (by Otez)
FAD O LARK (x Thunderbird) dam of Canadian Reserve National Champion Western Pleasure Fad Fereyn+
JUNA (x Fer Natta) dam of U.S. Top Ten Futurity Stallion Heritage Gamin (by Lewisfield Faarseyn) and U.S. Reserve National Champion Formal Driving Heritage Aiglon++ (by Fadi)
JUREEM (x Ferneyna) dam of Canadian National Champion Trail Zanntara (by Fadjur)
JURNEEKA++ (x Fadneeka) dam of U.S. and Canadian National Champion Stallion and Western Pleasure Khemosabi+++ (by Amerigo)
KARELIA (x Surima) dam of U.S. Top Ten Futurity Mare Wind Rhapsody (by Fire Wind), Canadian Top Ten Mare & U.S. Top Ten Western Pleasure Wind Dream++ (by Fire Wind), and U.S. Top Ten Western Pleasure Wind Fame (by Fire Wind)
ZANNTARA (x Jureem) dam of U.S. Top Ten Western Sidesaddle RJ Naborzanfadasy (by Gai Adventure) and U.S. Top Ten Stock AOTR and Canadian Top Ten Stock Exasperation (by Phazon)
BINT FER NATTA (x Fer Natta) dam of U.S. Reserve National Champion Native Costume Naja Montego (by Mon Ta Basko)
CHART 3: TOP SIRING SONS OF FADJUR (THOSE WHO HAVE SIRED MULTIPLE NATIONAL WINNERS AND/OR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
FADI (x Saki) sire of U.S. Top Ten Formal Driving Heritage Agneau (out of Aastrafa), U.S. Reserve National Champion Formal Driving Heritage Aiglon++ (out of Juna), U.S. National Champion English Pleasure AOTR Heritage Eclat++, U.S. & Canadian Top Ten Stallion Heritage Elegant (out of Doraza), U.S. Top Ten Park Heritage Nezblanc, Canadian Top Ten Mare Heritage Paques, Canadian Top Ten Western Pleasure Heritage Quite, U.S. Top Ten Futurity Cutting Beau Fadi, and U.S. Top Ten Western Pleasure JOTR Bint Fadi (out of Stone Arc Vismond)
FADJURS PROPHECY (x Zbna) sired 1994 Canadian Top Ten Western Pleasure JOTR 14-17 and Western Pleasure JTR Pride of Prophecy
FARJUR (x Farwaseyna) sire of Canadian Reserve National Champion Gelding Kaylek++
IBN FADJUR (x Saki) sire of U.S. Reserve National Champion Hunter Sur Fad++ (out of Bint Surbanna), Canadian Top Ten Mare Fadanna, Canadian Top Ten Park La Ribn++, U.S. Top Ten Native Costume Feribn (out of Fer Natta), and U.S. Top Ten Novice Cutting Sam
SIR FADJUR (x Mehanazem) sire of U.S. Reserve National Champion Western Pleasure JOTR Sirlin+
SUR-FADJOLIN (x Suralita) sire of Canadian National Champion Formal Driving and Park AOTR Joal (out of Allakar) and U.S. Top Ten Gelding Sir Fadjolin++
TAKARA FADJUR (x Ferneyna) sire of Canadian National Champion Stock Takara Fadruffles
TRE-JUR (x Ferneyna) sire of Canadian National Champion Native Costume and Top ten Show Hack Sur Kef++ and U.S. Top Ten English Pleasure AOTR Zakkar Fadjur+
FADLOREN+ (x Maaroudana) sire of U.S. and Canadian National Champion Working Cow Horse Bar Fly
**All of the articles included in the re-launched Crabbet.com site from the original website, Georgia Cheer, Silver Monarch Publishing and The Crabbet Influence magazine are shared here with permission of Georgia Cheer given May 16, 2012.**
Last Updated: May 2nd, 2019
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